JP2008089278A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily notify a user about a failure when there is a failure of an air blowing means provided with a compact defrost water evaporating device. <P>SOLUTION: A machine chamber 102b is provided in a rear lower part of the refrigerator 101, and the defrost water evaporating device 104 evaporating defrost water of an evaporator of the refrigerator is provided in the machine chamber. The compact defrost water evaporating device can be easily composed in the rear lower part of the refrigerator by providing a vessel 201 receiving the defrost water, a lid 202 provided with at least two or more openings 203 on a top face of the vessel, and the air blowing means 205 on the openings, and carrying out alarm display by a display means provided on a refrigerator front face when there is failure of the air blowing means. The user is easily notified about failure by the display means provided on the refrigerator front face when there is failure of the air blowing means, and malfunction such as water leaking can be prevented. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator provided with a failure warning function for a blowing means.

  Conventionally, this type of refrigerator has been put on the market with an internal lighting and a failure warning function for electrical components. For example, the failure alarm function of the conventional refrigerator described in Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Of compressors, condensers, decompressors, evaporators, etc., which are components that are connected in order by pipes to constitute the refrigeration system, the function is not fully exhibited, especially due to clogging of the filter, etc. I will explain by taking up many condensers.

  If the condenser is clogged and left in this state for a long time, the ambient temperature of the condenser fan motor will rise and the temperature of the bearing will rise, resulting in oil deterioration. Connect.

  In addition, if lint or the like is tangled around the fan motor, air is not sufficiently sent to the condenser, the condenser rises in temperature, or the load is heavy, so the fan motor itself rises in temperature. This will lead to the failure of the fan motor.

  At the stage where such condenser clogging and fan motor rotation failure continue, the situation is informed in advance so that the user can take action before a complete failure occurs.

  First, the flowchart showing the flow of basic control operation of the failure prediction and alarm system of the present invention shown in FIG. 8 will be described.

  To see if the condenser is functioning properly, a condenser temperature sensor is provided that is attached to the condenser surface and measures the condenser temperature. The condenser is also provided with a fan motor that sends external air to the condenser and a filter for taking in clean air. And in order to measure the temperature of a fan motor, the fan motor temperature sensor attached to the case surface of a fan motor is also provided. In addition, a compressor overload protection device (OLR) is provided that detects an overload state of the compressor based on the compressor current and stops the compressor. Therefore, first, it is checked whether or not the condenser temperature has risen by the condenser temperature sensor (21). Specifically, an upper limit temperature (for example, 55 ° C.) that can be considered to be abnormally high is set with respect to the temperature (for example, 45 ° C.) when the condenser operates normally and functions, and this upper limit temperature is set. Judgment is made based on whether or not (setting criteria) is exceeded.

  Here, the reason why the temperature of the condenser becomes considerably higher than normal is considered that the filter of the condenser is clogged with clogging, the fan motor itself is stopped, and the like.

  On the other hand, although the temperature of the condenser is not as high as described above, the fan motor temperature measured by the fan motor temperature sensor may be high. In such a case, for example, a thread or the like may be caught around the fan motor, which may increase the load on the fan motor and cause the fan motor to be overheated. Or the rotation operation of a fan motor is irregular, and the case where the lifetime of a fan motor has come is considered.

  Therefore, in the situation where the temperature rise of the condenser does not exceed the upper limit temperature (NO in 21), the temperature rise of the fan motor is measured by the fan motor temperature sensor (22), and the reference value when the fan motor is functioning normally. Comparison with temperature (outside air temperature + 15 ° C.) is performed (23). For example, if the outside air temperature is 30 ° C., the reference value temperature is 45 ° C. Therefore, if the temperature exceeds 45 ° C. (over), a warning for the life of the fan motor is given (24). In this way, removal of lint stuck to the user or the life of the fan motor has come to indicate the need for replacement. Note that, as the reference value temperature in this case, a difference between the inlet air temperature and the outlet air temperature of the condenser may be compared with a measurement reference value. And if the situation where the condenser temperature exceeds the upper limit temperature (55 ° C.) continues (YES in 21), the load on the compressor increases, the compressor current also increases, and the conditions for operating the compressor overload relay are established.

  Therefore, it is next determined whether or not there is an operation of the compressor overload relay (25). If the situation is not sufficient to activate the compressor overload relay (NO in 25), it is predicted that the filter is clogged and a filter cleaning warning is issued (26). The user sees this warning and cleans the filter.

  When the compressor overload relay operates (YES in 25), an abnormality display of a fan motor failure is displayed and an alarm is issued (27).

The various determinations, warnings, and alarms described above are performed by a control device including a microcomputer (see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-4-340197

  However, the conventional configuration has a problem that the alarm only turns on the alarm LED and the user is often not aware of it.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems. In particular, when a blower provided in a compact defrost water evaporation device fails, the user can easily notice the failure and prevent problems such as water leakage. The object is to provide a refrigerator.

  In order to solve the above conventional problems, the refrigerator of the present invention is provided with a machine room in the lower rear part of the refrigerator, and includes a defrost water evaporation device that evaporates the defrost water of the evaporator of the refrigerator in the machine room, The defrost water evaporation device includes a container that receives the defrost water, a lid provided with at least two or more openings on the upper surface of the container, and a blowing unit in the opening, and when the blowing unit fails, A warning is displayed by display means provided on the front surface of the refrigerator.

  This makes it easier for the user to notice the failure particularly when the blower provided in the compact defrosting water evaporator is broken.

  In the refrigerator of the present invention, when a blower means provided in a compact defrost water evaporator is out of order, the display means provided on the front face of the refrigerator makes it easy for the user to notice the failure and prevents problems such as water leakage. Can do.

  The invention according to claim 1 is provided with a machine room in a lower rear portion of the refrigerator, and includes a defrost water evaporator that evaporates the defrost water of the evaporator of the refrigerator in the machine room, the defrost water evaporator A container that receives the defrosted water, a lid that is provided with at least two openings on the upper surface of the container, and a blowing means that is provided on the opening. By displaying the warning with the means, a compact defrost water evaporation device can be easily configured at the lower rear of the refrigerator, and when the blower means fails, the display means provided on the front of the refrigerator makes it easier for the user to notice the failure. Problems such as water leakage can be prevented in advance.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the first aspect, the display means is a numerical display LED, so that when the blower means fails, the user can correctly convey the failure content to the service person. In addition, problems such as water leakage can be prevented in advance.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the display means is means for displaying the operation status of the function button with an LED, and when the blower means fails, the LED is blinked and displayed. Furthermore, it is possible for the user to easily notice the failure and prevent problems such as water leakage.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a heat source device for defrosting in the vicinity of the evaporator, and when the blower means fails, By displaying a warning with the provided display means and extending the energization cycle to the heat source device, it is possible to take care not to cause expansion damage even if the user does not notice the failure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a central sectional view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a defrosting water evaporation apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a removal according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of a frost water evaporation apparatus.

  In FIG. 1, machine rooms 102a and 102b are arranged at the uppermost and lowermost parts of the refrigerator main body 101, respectively. The machine room 102a includes a compressor 103, and the machine room 102b includes a defrost water evaporator 104 and a condenser 105. In addition, about the capacitor | condenser 105, when comprised in the machine room 102a, 102b, when comprised in the refrigerator main body 101, when comprised in both the machine room 102a, 102b and the refrigerator main body 101 In some cases, other than the inside of the machine rooms 102a and 102b or the refrigerator main body 101. A drainage passage 108 that guides the defrosting water 107 of the evaporator 106 and the evaporator 106 and a drain pipe 109 that guides the defrosting water 107 downward are provided above the defrosting water evaporator 104 in the machine room 102b.

  2 and 3 are explanatory diagrams of the defrosted water evaporation device 104. FIG. The defrosting water evaporation device 104 includes a container 201 that receives the defrosting water 107 below the drain pipe 109, and the upper surface of the container 201 is sealed at the top with a lid 202 and includes at least two openings 203. An air passage 204 is formed, and air blowing means 205 for forcing convection of air through the air passage 204 is provided. Of the opening 203, a drain outlet 206 for discharging the defrost water from the back of the refrigerator main body 101 to the outside is provided in the opening 203 where the air blowing means 205 is not provided. A heating means 207 for promoting evaporation of the defrost water 107 is provided in the container 201.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the refrigerator control circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the refrigerator control circuit according to the first embodiment.

  Next, the evaporating action of the defrosting water evaporation device 104 and the operation when the blower unit fails will be described with reference to FIGS. Although a detailed description of the refrigeration cycle is omitted because it has the same configuration as the conventional one, the evaporator 106 is formed at low temperature because of the low temperature, and is formed as frost on the surface of the evaporator 106 when exchanging heat with the air in the storage chamber 111. Since the frost accumulates as the operation time of the compressor 103 elapses, the heat source device 112 is appropriately heated to remove the frost on the surface of the evaporator 106, the frost is defrosted, and the drain water 107 passes through the drain pipe 109 and flows into the container 201. To be supplied. By sealing the upper part of the container 201 with the lid 202, the air path 204 has a single air path configuration passing over the water surface of the defrost water 107, and the wind speed is significantly increased as compared with the conventional case. By increasing the wind speed, the evaporation performance of the defrost water 107 is greatly improved. Further, the wind speed increases as the water level in the container 201 rises, and the evaporation performance is also improved. Accordingly, the defrost water 107 evaporates from the container 201 due to the wind speed of the air blowing means 205. It is known that the evaporation performance and the area of the upper surface of the container 201 are generally proportional. Therefore, the area of the upper surface of the defrost water evaporator 104 can be significantly reduced by increasing the wind speed. Further, the evaporation amount can be adjusted by setting the wind speed of the blowing means 205. The operation of the blower unit 205 is performed in synchronization with the operation of the compressor 103, for example. Note that the operation of the air blowing means 205 is not limited to the operation synchronized with the compressor 103. As the flow of the air in the entire machine room 102 b, for example, air having the same temperature as the fresh outside air temperature is sucked from the front lower part of the refrigerator, and the air heated through heat exchange through the condenser 105 is opened at the upper part of the defrost water evaporator 104 Enter one of the departments. The air that has entered passes through the surface of the defrosted water 107 in the container 201, passes through the blowing means 205 while evaporating, and exits from the refrigerator body 101 through another opening of the container 201. Moreover, the partition 114 is comprised so that the bypass of air may not occur on the suction side and discharge side of the defrost water evaporator 104. The arrangement of the air blowing means 205 is not limited to the arrangement shown in FIG. Further, since the temperature of the defrost water 107 rises due to the temperature rise due to the heat radiation of the condenser 105 which is a heat generating component in the machine room 102b, the saturated water pressure of the defrost water 107 rises and further promotes evaporation.

  When the air blowing means 205 fails, the evaporating action of the defrosting water evaporation device 104 is significantly deteriorated, and the defrosting water 107 may overflow from the container 201.

  The operation when the air blowing means 205 fails will be described with reference to FIGS. First, in step 500, the control means 401 inputs the current from the blower means 205. In step 501, if the current value is not possible, the failure warning LED 115 is turned on in step 502 as a failure of the blower means 205, and the function button is pressed in step 503. The operation status display lamp 402 of 601 is blinked. If it is determined in step 501 that the current value is not impossible, the process returns to step 500. The impossibility value in step 501 includes a drive current value range of the blower unit 205 in a range that can be a drive current of the blower unit 205. It is a range that cannot be outside this range. In the present embodiment, the case where the air blowing unit has failed has been described as an example, but the operation state display lamp 402 of the function button 601 may be blinked in the same manner when a failure of other electrical components is detected. In addition, the blinking interval may vary depending on the type of electrical component.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when a failure of an electrical component is detected, not only the failure warning LED is alarmed but also the function button operation status display lamp blinks, so that the user can more easily notice the failure. It is possible to prevent the food in the warehouse from being hurt without being noticed.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 6 is a front view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the refrigerator according to the same embodiment.

  The difference from the first embodiment is that a heat source device 112 and a control device 401 for controlling the heat source device 112 are provided at the lower part of the evaporator of the refrigerator, and the alarm means when the blower means 205 of the defrost water evaporator 104 fails. The means for displaying the alarm and the operation status of the function buttons with LEDs or the like are blinked and the operation interval (energization cycle) of the heat source device 112 is extended as compared with the normal operation.

  Next, an operation when the blower unit 205 fails will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 6, and 7.

  When the air blowing means 205 fails, the evaporating action of the defrosting water evaporation device 104 is significantly deteriorated, and the defrosting water 107 may overflow from the container 201. First, in step 700, the control means 401 inputs the current from the blower means 205. In step 701, if the current value is not possible, the failure warning LED 115 is turned on in step 702 as a failure of the blower means 205, and the function button is pressed in step 703. The operation status display lamp 402 of 601 is blinked, and the operation interval of the heat source device 112 is extended. If the current value is not an impossible value in step 101, the process returns to step 700.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when a failure of the air blowing unit 205 is detected, not only a warning by the failure warning LED but also a function button operation status display lamp blinks, and further the operation cycle of the heating device is extended. By reducing the amount of defrosted water discharged and preventing the defrosted water from overflowing from the defrosted water evaporator, it is possible to prevent expansion damage even if the user should not notice the display lamp.

  As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention is not only alarmed by the failure warning LED, but also flashes the function button operation status display lamp, so that the user can more easily notice the failure and the user can know the failure. Therefore, it can be applied not only to refrigerators but also to various fields such as dehumidifiers, air conditioners, and vending machines where evaporation of defrost water is necessary.

Sectional drawing of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 by this invention The perspective view of the defrost water evaporation apparatus of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 by this invention Sectional drawing of the defrost water evaporation apparatus of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 by this invention The block diagram of the control circuit of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 by this invention The flowchart of the control circuit of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 by this invention Front view of the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present invention The block diagram of the control circuit of the refrigerator in Embodiment 2 by this invention Block diagram of a conventional refrigerator control device

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Refrigerator 102b Machine room 104 Defrost water evaporator 106 Evaporator 107 Defrost water 112 Heater 115 Failure warning LED
201 Container 202 Lid 203 Opening 205 Blowing Means 401 Control Means 402 Function Button Operation Status Display Lamp 601 Function Button

Claims (4)

  A machine room is provided at the rear lower part of the refrigerator, the machine room is provided with a defrost water evaporator for evaporating defrost water of the evaporator of the refrigerator, the defrost water evaporator is a container for receiving the defrost water, A lid provided with at least two or more openings on the upper surface of the container, and a blowing means provided in the opening, and when the blowing means fails, a warning is displayed on the display means provided on the front surface of the refrigerator. Refrigerator.   The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the display means is a numerical display LED.   2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is a unit that displays an operation status of the function button with an LED, and the LED is blinked when the blower unit fails.   A heat source device for defrosting is provided in the vicinity of the evaporator, and when the blower means fails, a warning is displayed on the display means provided on the front surface of the refrigerator, and the energization cycle to the heat source device is extended. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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